DeKALB - Chris Lauzen officially threw his hat into the ring Wednesday for the race to fill the 14th Congressional District seat.

Lauzen, a Republican state senator from Aurora, kicked off his campaign at Garfield Park in Aurora and then started on a three-day, eight-county, 24-city “Faith, Family, and the Fruits of Freedom” tour.

Lauzen is the third Republican to declare his candidacy for the seat, which has been held by Republican Dennis Hastert for 21 years.

If elected, Lauzen would make a top priority the providing of needed resources and services for soldiers returning from current conflicts overseas, he said before speaking to the College Republicans at Northern Illinois University on Wednesday night.

“I know I'm no wonderful Gandhi peacemaker,” he said. “But I know we have to take care of them when they come home.”

Lauzen has represented the 25th state Senate District since 1992, and said that experience will provide him with the knowledge and background to succeed in Congress.

He's always answered any phone call, letter or e-mail from a constituent, he said, and would do his best to continue that tradition if elected. He'd use the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address as his guidebook.

Lauzen said he is an independent, noting he never promised bridges, roads or cushy contracts when first elected in 1992 - and has adhered to those guidelines.

“I'll work hard and stay honest and use some common sense,” he said. “I've kept those promises.”